There is unfounded information that the government of Japan will suspend the visa exemption for Thai nationals from January 1, 2014 which is NOT TRUE. The government of Japan did not make such an announcement.
For the immigration examination which is a measure that has been conducted, travelers should prepare documents or items such as a returning ticket (including e-ticket), financial proof that the travelers can cover their travel expenses while in Japan (cash, credit card, etc.), and contact information in Japan (name, address and telephone number of contact person, hotel, etc.) to show them to an immigration officer in case you are required to do so.
Those who are exempted from visa with this exemption measure are Thai nationals who will stay in Japan for not more than 15 days and whose activities in Japan are categorized as “Temporary Visitor”.
Activities which are allowed under the “Temporary Visitor” category are sight-seeing, visiting friends, attending lectures or meetings, or business communication during a short period of stay in Japan. Activities related to the management of business involving income or activities for which travelers receive reward are not allowed.

04 October 2013 : Notice for travelers who use visa exemption for Thai
nationals

1.

Visa exemption for Thai nationals has started since 1 July 2013.
(For detailed information about the visa exemption, please see “5 July 2013
: Visa Exemption for Thai Nationals Effective from 1 July 2013”
(see below) in our website.)

The length of stay with this visa exemption measure is not more than 15 days.
Travelers who plan to stay in Japan more than 15 days need to apply for a visa
before travel to Japan.

In case it turns out that you have to stay more than 15 days due to inevitable
reasons after entering Japan, please contact an immigration office in Japan.

2.

If a traveler exceeds the 15 days of lading permission without the
due procedures, the person will be in the state of illegal stay. In this case,
the person may be deported and shall not be permitted to enter Japan for 5
years or 10 years. Moreover, a person who violates any law or regulation of
Japan and has been sentenced to imprisonment for 1 year or more shall not be
permitted to enter Japan for an indefinite period.

3.

Please be aware that travelers who make false declaration in the
immigration examination or those who were deported from Japan in the past and
are still in the period of denial of landing shall not be permitted to enter
Japan.

As previously announced Thai nationals traveling to Japan for a
short-term period will be exempted from visas. The Government of Japan has now
announced the effective date is 1 July 2013 and the length of stay is for not
more than 15 days. If anyone wishes to visit, work, or stay in Japan for other
purposes for more than 15 days they still have to apply for a visa.

2.

We hope that exchange between Japan and Thailand will further be
promoted by this visa exemption.

3.

When entering Japan visitors will go through the immigration
procedure at the airport which is similar to when they apply for a visa at the
embassy. The immigration officer might ask some questions concerning the
purpose of visit or might ask to check certain documents such as a return air ticket, ect. Visitors
should check the list of necessary documents that might be required when
entering Japan at our website (first page of Consular Affairs).

On June 11, Thai nationals traveling to Japan for a short-term
period will be exempted from visas.

2.

We hope that the exchanges between Japan and Thailand will further
promoted by this visa relaxation.

3.

This new measure will start within summer season (in coming
months). The effective date of the implementation and the length of stay
without visa will be announced soon. (For those who plan to visit Japan in the
near future, please keep in mind of the starting date of this new measure. The
Embassy of Japan will not return visa and service fees for all visas that have
been issued before the effective date of implementation.)

Japan Visa Application Centre will close on Monday 8 April 2013 and from
Saturday 13 April 2013 to Tuesday 16 April 2013. Normal operating hours will
resume on Wednesday 17 April 2013.

Please submit your application within Friday 5 April 2013, if you wish to
receive your passport before long holiday. Submission on and after Tuesday 9
April your passport will be returned on and after Wednesday 17 April 2013.

Standard processing may vary for certain applications and it is at the sole
discretion of the Embassy of Japan, Thailand.

Please note that Visa fee will change as chart below from 01 April 2013

The Visa fees are determined based on your Nationality and Type of Entry to
Japan. Please refer to the table below.

Country

Single

Multiple

Transit

Thailand

1120

2240

260

India

320

320

20

Iran

1860

3740

1860

VFS service charge of THB535 will remain the same.

08 January 2013 : Dear applicant,

Information for applying visa during peak season.

During month of February to April every year, Japan Visa Application Centre
faces massive volume of application each day. As a result, you may have a long
wait at our

centre especially during lunch time, Monday and Friday. We strongly recommend
you to avoid these times and apply visa in ahead of peak season.

Single Visa can be applied 3 months in advance. If you are going to Japan
during Songkran Holiday,

we suggest you to apply visa by the end of January to avoid any hassle.

If your visa is issued on 20 January 2013 , you need to enter Japan before or
on 20 April 2013.

If your visa is issued on 1 February 2013, you need to enter Japan before or on
1 May 2013.

Furthermore, we would like to request our applicant to prepare your required
document completely, and fill out your application form and questionnaire
without any blank field. We appreciate your corporation.

21 November 2012 : New Year and Year End Operating Hours.

Season’s Greetings from Japan Visa Application Centre.

Japan Visa Application Centre will close from Saturday December 29, 2012 for
New Year Holiday.

Normal operating hours will resume on Friday January 4.

Please submit your application on or before Monday December 24, if you wish to
receive your passport within this year.

Submission on and after Tuesday December 25, your passport will be returned on
and after Friday January 4, 2013.

Standard processing may vary for certain applications and it is at the sole
discretion of the Embassy of Japan, Thailand.

The Embassy of Japan has renewed the Questionnaire effective immediately.
The previous Questionnaire form can be used until 30SEP2012. We are unable to
accept old format on and after 1 October 2012. Thank you for your understanding
and corporation.

Multiple Entry Visa for Sightseeing, Visiting Relatives and Other Purposes
(for Thai Nationals Only)
Starting from 1 June 2012 the Japanese government will issue a multiple entry
visa for Thai nationals only who live in Thailand and want to go to Japan for
sightseeing, visiting relatives and other purposes.
Please see the following link for details.

Announcement of a Change to the Visa Application Form

The Embassy of Japan will renew the Visa Application Form effective from March
2012. The previous Application Form can be used until 30th April 2012. Thank
you for your understanding and cooperation. Download new application form here

Please note that Visa fee will change as chart below from 01 April 2012

The Visa fees are determined based on your Nationality and Type of Entry to
Japan. Please refer to the table below.

Country

Single

Multiple

Transit

Thailand

1120

2260

260

India

320

320

20

Iran

1880

3760

1880

VFS service charge of THB535 will remain the same.

Openings of 5 Additional intake centres.

For the convenience of applicants in Thailand, VFS Global (the outsourced
partner to the Embassy of Japan, Thailand) is currently accepting applications,
applicable fees and providing delivery service for all general applicants
through selected Thailand Post Intake Centres in 6 cities across the country.
For more convenience to applicants, we are opening 5 additional centeres
starting on 4th of April onwards. The new intake centres are located in central
post office of Khon Kaen, Ubonratchathani, Petchaburi, Surat Thani and Hadyai.

The Embassy of Japan will continue to accept applications from Diplomatic and
Official passport holders and applicants traveling on humanitarian emergency to
Japan.

Under normal circumstances, all visa applications will take a minimum of 07 to
08 working days to process and return from the date of submission at the Intake
Centre. Due to unexpected circumstances of Thai Post and visa processing time
are differ from application as applications are discretion of the Embassy of
Japan, Thailand. Please submit your application well in advance. We VFS are not
responsible for delayed passport delivery.

A service fee of 535 THB (inclusive of VAT) and applicable Visa Application Fee
will be applicable for all visa applications, payable in cash at the Thailand
Post Intake Centre.

Thailand Post will be responsible only for accepting of applications and has no
authority or influence over the outcome of the application. All applications
will continue to be assessed by the Embassy of Japan, Thailand.

Dear Applicants,

Japan Visa Application Centre would like to express our appreciation for
your trustfulness in our service throughout the year.

According to the changing of Postal Service Fee (EMS) which takes place on 1
January 2012, Japan Visa Application Centre would like to an announcement for
postal fee change as below.

Effective 4 August 2010, applicants must submit their Visa
Application at the Japan Visa Application Centre (JVAC) in Bangkok. Applicants
are required to pay the applicable visa fee and JVAC service fee of THB 535
inclusive of VAT. JVAC will accept applications from 08:30 hrs to 17:30 hrs
Monday to Friday except Embassy holidays. Processed passports can be collected
from JVAC between 08:30 hrs to 17:30 hrs Monday to Friday and 08:30 hrs to
12:30 hrs on Saturday except Embassy holidays. Applicants may opt to receive
their passports by courier to their home or office address at an additional
cost. Applicants may track the progress of their application by visiting the
JVAC website. Please click here to view the JVAC address and location map.
Applications from Diplomatic / Official passport holders and applicants
applying for Emergency travel or transfer of issued visa will continue to be
accepted at the Embassy of Japan in Thailand.

The visa fees and service charge will be collected by the Japan Visa
Application Centre at the time of submitting the visa application.

The visa fees are subject to change on 1 April every year. It is advisable to
check the website for the current visa fees before applying.